Full coverage of the medications — known as opioid agonists — will be available to all B.C. residents with an active medical services plan.
British Columbia says it is providing universal coverage for opioid agonist treatments that help people with substance use disorders, making it the first province in Canada to do so.
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions said the policy became effective June 6, and expands full coverage to approximately 1,638 people who had been paying out of pocket, out of a total of 34,520 who had been receiving the treatments in B.C. last year."By reducing financial barriers to opioid agonist treatment medication, we're making it easier for people to get the care they need and helping to create more equitable health outcomes for people in B.C.
The agonist treatment has been proven to work by keeping people from illicit opioid use, which reduces the risk of death, the news release said. Jennifer Whiteside, B.C.'s minister of mental health and addictions, said in the statement the coverage removes cost barriers to opioid treatments and will help people "stabilize their lives, prevent deaths and stay on their journey to wellness."
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Canada’s great addictive-drug giveaway experiment somehow goes awry: Full Comment podcastDr. Sharon Koivu discusses safe supply with Brian Lilley
Read more »
Read the full story and comment on Tbnewswatch.comFurniture students at Sheridan College worked with the local Indigenous community to design a unique set of furnishings for the Waverley library's expanded Indigenous Knowledge Centre.
Read more »
CBE looks to balance enrolment with more schools too full or too emptyCBE public school trustees will debate admin report on overflow and overflow receiver schools as they struggle to balance enrolment.
Read more »
Inquest scheduled to probe 2014 death of man in police custodyRead the full story and comment on Tbnewswatch.com
Read more »
Inside the Tony Awards: No script, but plenty of song, dance, high spirits and history - Terrace StandardInside the Tony Awards: No script, but plenty of song, dance, high spirits and history
Read more »